Wartsila to power world's first dual fuel dredge

AUGUST 6, 2015 — A new generation "Antigoon" class trailing suction hopper dredge, called Scheldt River, being built by shipbuilder Royal IHC (IHC) in the Netherlands on behalf of the Belgium based DEME Group (see earlier story), is to be powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel (DF) engines.

The 104 m long vessel will have a hopper volume capacity of approximately 8,000 cu.m and will be the first ever dredge to operate on engines capable of utilizing either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or conventional marine fuels.

The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in July. Its scope of supply includes one 12-cylinder and one 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF engines, two Wärtsilä controllable pitch propellers and two transverse thrusters as well as the company's patented LNGPac gas supply and storage system.

"Wärtsilä's unmatched experience and extensive reference list in dual-fuel engine applications, plus our complete solutions portfolio, were key considerations in the award of this contract," says Lars Anderson, Vice President, Engine Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions. "We congratulate the shipyard and owners for taking the decision to have this new dredge become the first to be capable of using LNG or diesel fuel."

"Environmental considerations are extremely important for every new vessel built today," says Jan Gabriël, Head of New Building and Conversion Department at DEME. "Operating on LNG allows DEME to set new standards in minimizing harmful emissions. Scheldt River will easily comply with all local and international environmental regulations. Wärtsilä's dual-fuel know-how and in particular the 34DF engine series made our concept feasible."

This is the second major order received by Wärtsilä in recent weeks for dredge related propulsion solutions. In June, the company was contracted to supply a comprehensive integrated solutions package for one of the world's largest and most advanced self-propelled cutter dredges currently under construction in China.